RPT-Brazil speaker joins criticism of legislation to regulate Uber

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By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA, April 5 (Reuters) - Drivers, users and even the speaker of Brazil's lower house of Congress on Wednesday spoke out against legislation that seeks to force significant changes to the business model of the Uber ride service in Latin America's biggest country.

Speaker Rodrigo Maia said he would seek a presidential veto if the Senate approves a bill giving cities more power over online ride-hailing, particularly by classifying them as public transport - not a private service.

The bill, which passed his chamber on Tuesday, is a "step back," Maia said, because consumers have shown there is demand for the Uber service and taxis alike.

"We need to have a balanced bill that preserves the taxis, preserves Uber and respects the interests of Brazilians who want both systems to co-exist," he told reporters.

The bill is the latest challenge to Uber Technologies in Brazil, its second-largest market worldwide. The U.S. company has already lost battles in four cities where authorities successfully regulated or taxed the service and faced everything from blockades to physical assaults by taxi drivers, who accuse it of unfair competition.

In a statement Wednesday, Uber said the bill "applies antiquated rules to new technology" and would turn Uber into a traditional cab service.

If classified as a public transport service, instead of a technology company, Uber drivers would have to obtain permits from city authorities, who could levy taxes and require insurance and pension benefits for drivers, pushing up costs.

The company could also have to report the number of drivers it uses, a figure it does not normally disclose, for social security and other possible tax obligations.

Cities could also require vehicles to have special plates, like taxis, or even oblige drivers to install taximeters, an obligation that led Uber to decide to shut down services in Denmark on April 18 if a rule there is not changed.

Uber started in Brazil in 2014 and now operates in 50 cities. In the last three months, 13 million people used Uber, a spokesman said.

Adding to Uber's woes, Spanish rival Cabify on Tuesday announced a $200 million investment in Brazil.

Cabify also criticized the ride-hailing bill, saying in a statement it would "make the model inviable."

Tony de Souza Ribeiro, an Uber driver in Brasilia, agrees.

In addition to gasoline, maintenance and the 25 percent cut of revenues that Uber charges, a city license cost of 60,000 reais would drive him off the streets, he said.

"I think Uber will not be able to survive in Brazil. It will come to an end if this goes through," Ribeiro said. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; editing by Grant McCool)